The Rainbow Practice
The Assessment Team work closely with The Rainbow Therapy Practice who provide comprehensive neuropsychological assessments for children with autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Neuropsychological assessments (also commonly referred to as cognitive assessments) investigate a child’s learning, academic potential and daily living skills. The assessment investigates a child’s intellectual abilities (IQ), memory, phonological skills, academic abilities, attention, executive function, processing speed and visuospatial skills. The aim of the cognitive assessment is to identify a child’s strengths and challenges in their learning profiles. Specific challenges can affect a child psychologically and educationally in school and so an assessment will help put in place support, adaptations and strategies.
Where appropriate, children may be diagnosed with difficulties such as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia or Dyspraxia or specific delays with working memory or information processing and may be entitled to additional support within the classroom, or special provision for examinations. Knowing these challenges exist and how to deal with them is often enough to get children back on track educationally. It may also help you, as parents, in selecting a school placement that would best meet your child’s needs.
Clinics are held in Great Ormond Street Hospital Private Patients Department but they can also provide assessments in children’s homes and schools. For more information please see their website www.therainbowtherapypractice.co.uk or email Dr Maria Hadji-Michael to book www.maria.hadji-michael@gosh.nhs.uk.
Directors
Dr Maria Hadji-Michael
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Dr Maria Hadji-Michael is an Anglo-Greek Cypriot brought up in London and a Senior Clinical Psychologist working at Great Ormond Street Hospital with children for the last 6 years. Dr Hadji-Michal undertook her Undergraduate Degree in Psychology at University College London, her master’s degree at Kings College London in Mental Health and carried out her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Royal Holloway University. She has been working with children psychologically in the NHS for the last 10 years.
Dr Hadji-Michael is trained in a number of psychological therapies but predominantly uses CBT, ACT and Narrative Therapy. She is also experienced in delivering Behavioural Therapies for Tics and has completed additional training in Narrative Therapy, Systemic Therapy and parenting approaches including the Solihull Approach.
One of her main areas of expertise is supporting those with learning difficulties. She conducts neuropsychological assessments to determine an individual’s specific learning profile. Psychometric assessments investigate intellect, academic abilities, memory and attention and allow tailored support and strategies to be put in place at home and school. These assessments can help diagnose specific learning difficulties (e.g., dyslexia, dycalculia, dyspraxia and dysgraphia) that require educational support and potentially special adjustments in examinations.
She is fully registered with the Health Care Professional Council (HCPC) as a Registered Clinical Psychologist: PYL32517 and regulated by the British Psychological Society